The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested ten individuals, including high-ranking academicians and NAAC inspection committee members, for their alleged involvement in a bribery scandal related to the accreditation of educational institutions in India. The investigation revealed that bribes in the form of cash, gold, and valuable assets were used to manipulate NAAC ratings, particularly for the Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation (KLEF) in Andhra Pradesh.
The arrested individuals include Manas Kumar Mishra (Director, GL Bajaj Institute of Technology), Samarendra Nath Saha (Vice-Chancellor, Ramchandra Chandravanshi University), Rajeev Sijariya (Professor, JNU), D. Gopal (Dean, Bharat Institute of Law), Rajesh Singh Pawar (Dean, Jagran Lakecity University), and Bulu Maharana (Professor, Sambalpur University), among others. The CBI conducted raids at 20 locations, seizing ₹37 lakh in cash, six laptops, an iPhone 16 Pro, and other incriminating materials.
The investigation also suggests a deep-rooted network where NAAC officials allegedly coordinated with middlemen and institution heads months before inspections to ensure that accreditation ratings could be manipulated in exchange for bribes. Institutions seeking A, A+, or A++ grades were informed of inspection dates in advance, allowing them to fabricate necessary documents and facilities to meet the NAAC criteria superficially.
The case raises serious concerns about corruption in India’s higher education accreditation system, with potential implications for the credibility of NAAC and the broader education sector. The investigation is ongoing, and further arrests may follow.
